MEDIA CENTRE

DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal hits £19m

The Disasters Emergency Committee today announced that their appeal for people affected by the Pakistan floods has raised £19m with member agency relief efforts so far reaching over 700,000 people.

Disasters Emergency Committee Chief Executive Brendan Gormley said:

“The generosity of public’s response to this disaster has continued to build, despite the mood of financial uncertainty and strain currently gripping the country.

“But the fact is, more than two weeks after the floods began, conditions are still worsening in Pakistan. Flood waters are continuing to swell and spread to more villages, more rain is expected and the threat of deadly disease outbreaks looms large. We are still very much dealing with an emergency situation.”

The disaster has already claimed the lives of 1,600 people and is now estimated to have affected 20 million people.

The DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal is separate from the pledges being sought by the United Nations which is hoping to secure funds from governments worldwide.

To make a donation to the DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal call the 24 hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900, visit http://www.dec.org.uk or donate over the counter at any post office or high street bank, or send a cheque. You can also donate £5 by texting the word GIVE to 70707 – see details below.

Anyone wanting to stay up to date with developments in Pakistan, the emergency response and the fundraising efforts can follow the DEC on twitter at http://twitter.com/decappeal or become a fan of ‘Disasters-Emergency-Committee-DEC’ on Facebook.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

To make a postal donation make cheques payable to ‘DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal’ and mail to ‘PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA’.

Donations can be made at any high street bank.

To donate at a Post Office quote Freepay 1384.

To donate £5 by text send the word GIVE to 70707. A standard network rate charge will apply.

If you are a journalist with a media enquiry, please call 020 7255 9111, or outside office hours 07930 999 014.

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The Disasters Emergency Committee brings together 14 leading UK aid agencies to raise money at times of humanitarian crisis in poorer countries. By working together we can raise more money to save lives and rebuild shattered communities.